Prithvi theatre presentation

Prithvi theatre, Mumbai

1. Prithvi Theatre

2. Introduction Founded in: 1942 Founded by: Prithviraj Kapoor Location: Near Juhu Beach First performance: Shakuntala

3. History Prithvi Theatres was founded in 1942, by Prithviraj Kapoor , as a travelling troupe with 150 members, which staged productions across India. Its maiden performance was Kalidasa's classic “ Shakuntala ”. In subsequent years the theatre staged some 2,662 plays such as “ Deewar ” (Wall), “ Pathan ”, “ Ghaddar ”( Traitor), “ Aahuthi ” (Offering), “ Kalaakar ” ( Artist ),“ Paisa” (Money) and “ Kisaan ” (Farmer). Prithviraj starred as the lead actor in every show. His work in the Indian film industry funded the activities of the company

4. The company visited 112 towns. Prithviraj Kapoor  played the lead in every single show, which meant an average of a show every third day. The company travelled third class and this included   Prithviraj   himself Electric fans were not allowed; instead each audience member was given a hand fan.

5. Prithviraj Kapoor's youngest son Shashi Kapoor, who had trained as an actor and director in the Prithvi Theatres, married Jennifer Kendal, shared a deep passion for theatre, and a great respect for Prithviraj’s dream for Indian theatre.

6. AIMS The Trust was set up in 1975 in the memory of Prithviraj Kapoor, to achieve the following aims : To promote professional theatre, Hindi Theatre primarily, by providing and managing a well-equipped Theatre space at very reasonable costs, with all technical facilities. To subsidize and promote aspiring and deserving stage artists, technicians, researchers etc . To host and conduct workshops. To provide rehearsal and workshop spaces. To create a theatre resource center and research library (under construction). To provide medical and educational assistance to theatre workers and their children.

7. Prithvi Theatre Today Prithvi Theatre has performances Tuesday to Sunday every week  through the year with over 643 shows a year and an average audience attendance of 77 %. There are plays in Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati. Ticket prices vary from Rs 150 to Rs 500. Regular show timings are 6 pm & 9pm, though groups sometimes opt for other times.

8. Prithvi Theatre Festival First held in 1983, the Prithvi Theatre Festival has become an annual event in the Mumbai calendar. There is no one theme - the Festival simply seeks to explore and celebrate theatre in its diversity - local, national, international; old traditions , new forms, cross-currents - and to share theatre with our audiences.

9. Some festivals have also been theme based - the 2007 Festival was Mumbai Musicals, featuring musicals by Mumbai groups, while the 2006 Festival, celebrating Prithviraj Kapoor's birth centenary, took as its theme his theatre company's motto - Kala Desh Ki Seva Mein - and invited groups from across India which sought to deal with contemporary socio-political issues in their work.

10. Summertime@Prithvi Prithvi focuses an entire Season for children during the Summer Holidays with various activities for the young between the ages of  3 to 100yrs !!!! Plays for children are programmed at 11am and 3pm every day of the week during the Season Held since 1991 the idea is to develop a future audience for theatre and unleash creativity in the youth.

11. Memorial Concert Annual concert. Prithvi Theatre's intimate and acoustically wonderful space is also ideal for Classical music , both vocal and instrumental. As part of the 2nd Prithvi Festival in 1985, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma performed to a spellbound audience on the 28th of February. The experience of hearing the Suntoor and Tabla up close, un-amplified , and in their acoustic purity was a rare and amazing experience, bringing alive the traditional ' baithak ' experience.  Since 1985 Ustad Zakir Hussain has kept his 'date' with Prithvi Theatre - by personally designing magical evenings of musical encounters at Prithvi on 28th February, every year.

12. Thespo Thespo is a youth theatre movement that began in 1999 as a one act play festival. Its initial aims were to recognise , promote and showcase the best youth theatre that is available in India. workshops , interactions restaging of work that featured in the festival. In fact since 2007, Thespo has tied up with Prithvi Theatre to curate youth theatre each month at the prestigious venue in a programme aptly titled Thespo at Prithvi . This year held from 13 th to 17 th dec 2016.  

13. Hero is a comic drama about a boy who is wooing a girl, but the girl wants to marry a man like Amitabh Bachchan . He starts impersonating the ‘angry young man’ but is caught in a dilemma when his fan following in the village grows but the girl is not easily impressed. What ensues is a story of coming-of-age against the desire to be larger than life. Is Amitabh Bachchan God or just another  Hero ? Writer : Chinmay Kulkarni, Director : Ajinkya Mane HERO

14. Famous Actors Naseeruddin Shah A veteran film and stage actor , he has starred in over 150 films and TV shows. If you are a fan of theatre, you may have seen Naseer’s brilliance on stage too. 

15. Prithviraj Kapoor He founded Prithvi Theatres and also acted in nine silent films before bagging a supporting role in India's first talkie Alam Ara in 1931. Despite maintaining a high profile film career, Prithviraj Kapoor remained devoted to theatre throughout his life.

16. Raj Kapoor When you're the son of the founder of Prithvi Theatre, the stage is like the back of your hand. That's what Raj Kapoor's childhood was like. He'd later go on to be known as 'the Show Man' but all the nitty-gritties of acting, production and everything that happens backstage, he picked up from his time in his dad's group.

17. Paresh Rawal As a student of Narsee Monjee College, Paresh Rawal used to act in plays in many languages . Some of the more famous ones are  Khelaiya   ,  Dear  Father  and   Krishan Vs   Kanhaiya   .

18. Thankyou!